Page 120 of His to Cherish
Shaking my head free of those thoughts, my hands were tingling when I bent down and pulled out the cupcake his daughter wanted.
“These are my favorite,” I whispered, placing it on a plate and sliding it across the counter. My gaze flickered to Cory, who was still watching me with an odd look in his eyes. “What else can I get for you?”
“Um…coffee and a blueberry bagel, please.”
His eyes didn’t leave mine, and as I turned my back to him, I still felt him watching me, even though his daughter was happily chattering about the cupcake and wanting a glass of juice.
As I poured the coffee, I looked at him over my shoulder. “Still like it black?”
His head jerked in surprise. “Yeah…thanks.”
“No problem.”
I slid the rest of his order to him, making sure to put the juice in a kids’ cup with a lid and straw, and rang up his total.
“This is weird,” he said as he handed me his credit card. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
I slid the card through the reader. “I’m helping Kate this summer, something to do.”
When I looked up, his head was tilted to the side. In reality, Latham Hills was such a small town it was amazing we didn’t run into each other more often.
“You look good,” he finally said in his quiet but not super deep voice. It didn’t affect me at all, although I used to love his voice.
Now, between him and Aidan, there was absolutely no comparison.
“Thanks,” I murmured, handing him his card. “Your daughter is beautiful.”
His eyes flickered down to the pudgy little toddler next to him and then back to me. When he did, his shoulders dropped.
In the distance, I heard the chime of the door but didn’t turn my head to see who was coming in.
He hesitated before blurting, “Thank you. And for the record, Chelsea, I’m really sorry. You didn’t deserve the shit I put you through.”
My lips rolled together, my emotions and the memories flashing through my mind.
I could thank him for an apology that came years too late, but even as he said the words, I knew I didn’t need them. Not anymore.
I gestured toward the items I’d plated for them and smiled. “Enjoy your treat,” I said instead. “And take care.”
Without giving him the opportunity to continue a conversation I didn’t want to have, I shifted my attention to the customer who had come in and had undoubtedly heard our awkward conversation.
When I did, my cheeks flushed and my voice went breathy. “Aidan.”
His hands were shoved into his pockets, and based on his cool expression, by the way he watched Cory walk away before turning his attention back to me, he’d heard everything.
“You okay?” he asked, nodding his head in the direction where Cory had taken a seat with his daughter.
“I’m good.”
He frowned and stepped toward me.
“I promise, I’m okay.”
His lips pressed together like he wanted to say something else, but I was already untying my white apron, wrapping it in my hands. “I’m also ready for our weekend, unless you’d like to get something to go?”
Aidan’s eyes flashed in humor and his lips twitched. “Can you make the four-hour car ride without sugar in you?”
I grinned. “Probably not.”
